CDR Bunte is a native of Quincy, Illinois, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration with a specialty in Technology Leadership from National University. Prior enlisted, he completed Gunner’s Mate “A” school in Great Lakes, Illinois, and MK 45 5”/54 Light Weight Gun Mount and MK 41 Vertical Launching System “C” schools in Dam Neck, Virginia. CDR Bunte commissioned under the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program as a Surface Ordnance LDO.

At sea, he served aboard USS Mount Hood (AE 29); Special Boat Team 20; USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72); USS Ross (DDG 71) as the Systems Test Officer and Ballistic Missile Defense Officer; Commander, Task Force 63 as the Fleet Ordnance Officer embarked on USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the Maintenance and Material Management Officer and Ship’s Maintenance Manager, and most recently as the Combat Systems Officer aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).

Ashore he commanded Navy Munitions Command Pacific East Asia Division, Unit Misawa. His other shore tours include Navy Munitions Command Atlantic (NMCLANT), Unit Sewells Point (formerly Atlantic Ordnance Command); NMCLANT, Unit Charleston (formerly Mobile Mine Assembly Unit 11) as the Operations Officer and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty Team Leader; and as the Surface Electronics and Ordnance LDO/CWO detailer at Navy Personnel Command (PERS 41). Additionally, he served an 18-month Individual Augmentee tour with Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, as the Assistant Officer in Charge of a forward operating location in Uganda.

He is a graduate of the elite U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman course of instruction and U.S. Army Ranger School. He has earned numerous awards and accolades including the 2015 Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award and the 2014 Admiral Stanley R. Arthur Award for Logistics Excellence.

Mustang Association Experience:

2008-2009: Naval Weapons Station Charleston Mustang Association - Secretary

2009-2012: USS Ross (DDG 71) Mustang Association - President

2012-2015: C6F Mustang Association - Treasurer

2015-2017: USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Mustang Association - Events Coordinator

2017-2020: Navy Personnel Command Mustang Association - Member

2020-2021: USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Mustang Association - Member

2021-2023: Naval Air Facility Misawa Japan Mustang Association - Mustang ONE/Member
2023-2025: Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) - Member 

2021-present: Navy Mustang Association National - Member
2025-Present: Mid-South Mustang Association Member